Tufting device



M. DUBICK TUFTING DEVICE March 4, 1941.

Filed MarGh 3l, 1939 Patented Mar. 4, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TUFTING DEVICE- Michael Dubick, Chicago, Ill., assigner to Superior Felt & Bedding Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application March 31, 1939, Serial No. 265,075

Claims.

l" novel means for securing a tufting button tothe outside fabric layer of an article and new and improved means for establishing a permanent connection between the buttons on the opposite sides of the article.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following description and from the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view of a tufted article having a tufting device embodying the invention assembled thereon.

Fig. 2 is a side View of a tufting button.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate in perspective the coacting parts of a tufting button.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, I have shown in the drawing and will herein describe in detail the preferred embodiment, but

) .it is to be understood that I do not thereby intend to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but intend to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the .invention as expressed in the appended claims.

The article fragmentarily shown in Fig. l is an exemplary structure intended to represent generally any type of tufted article. The top, bottom and sides of the structure, designated I0, II and I2 respectively, are usually formed of a suitable ticking or like fabric enclosing conventional filling material I3. The tufting device indicated at I4 extends between the top and bottom fabric to maintain close unity between these parts and the filling material. The tufting device includes two tufting buttons I5 at opposite ends of a connecting member I6 such as a tape or cord.

Each o-f the tufting buttons herein illustrated comprises a pair of button sections having interlocking means for quickly and conveniently assembling the sections together into a unitary button in which the sections cannot accidentally become separated. These sections may be termed a button or head section II (Fig. 4) and a shank section I8 (Fig. 5). The yshank section in this instance is an elongated tubular metal member that may taper slightly from end to end, as shown. At its smaller end the shank is adapted to receive one end of the tape I6 and the shank may be suitably connected rigidly to the tape by crimping the shank, as at I9, into binding lengagement with the tape end. Spaced from the open end of the shank is a resilient tongue 2U arranged to extend angularly inwardly of the shank from one side wall thereof and away from the open shank end. The tongue may be formed integrally with the shank by a stamping operation which at the same time may locate the CIO tongue medially of a slot 2I of larger dimensions.

The button or head section as shown includes the tongue I9 on the shank. Hence when the l stem is inserted into thel lshank the inwardly moving stem end will force the tongue aside until the tongue snaps into the stem slot 24. This interlock cannot be accidentally released since a separating pull on the head and shank only bends the tongue completely through the stem slot to extend across the shank into angular engagement with the opposite shank wall as shown in Fig. 3.

While the tufting device shown herein has tufting buttons of this construction at opposite ends of the tape it will be evident that such a button at one end of the tape will suffice since in tufting the article the shank end of the tape is passed completely through the article, as from bottom to top, and the button section is then affixed to the shank section. Hence if desired the button at the opposite end of the tape may be lof any conventional construction.

A feature of importance is the provision of means on the tufting button structure for securing the button assembly to the fabric engaged thereby to prevent separation of the button and fabric. To this end the stem of the button section is preferably thin and flat providing opposite faces to which the ends Iof resilient lingers 25 are suitably secured. The fingers are relatively long and are arranged to extend along and outwardly away from the stem to points adjacent to the fabric engaging face of the button head 22. The finger ends may terminate in curls 2S or the like to prevent cutting or tearing of the fabric. The relation of the fingers to the stem and head is such that when the stem is passed through an aperture in the fabric the fingers will be constricted, as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 3, also to pass through the aperture. Thereafter the fingers spring away from the stem to straddle Ythe fabric aperture and bind the fabric against the opposed head face and prevent separation of the fabric and tufting button.

From the foregoing it will be evident that a novel tufting device has been provided which may be quickly and permanently aiixed to an article to be tufted. The interlock between the button sections insures that the unit will remain assembled until the tongue is engaged through the shank slot 2| and intentionally lifted out of the stem slot 24. The binding engagement of the tufting button with the fabric prevents relative separating movement therebetween. These features together in a tufting device insure permanency of the tufted structure.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a tufting button the combination of a head section, an elongated stem extending therefrom, said stem having a slot therein near its free end and a tubular member adapted to be secured to a tape, the open end of said tubular member being dimensioned to receive the free end of said stern, said tubular member having a finger struckinwardly from a side wall thereof and extending in a direction away from said open end, said finger being dimensioned to engage said slot with the end portion of said finger in abutment with the free end margin of said slot to resist a separting pull between said head section and tubular member, the construction of said tubular member and .said stem being such that the relative assembly movement thereof is limited to engagement of said finger in said slot, whereby accidental separation of said tubular member and said stem-is rendered practically impossible.

2. In combination in a tufting button of the character described, a button head including an elongated fiat stem, a tubular shank section in-` ternally dimensioned for substantially snugly receiving said stem through one end, a tape strip having an end permanently secured Within the opposite end of said shank section and serving positively to limit the extent of relative assembly movement of said stem and said shank section, said shank section having a resilient tongue extending inwardly from one wall thereof and generally toward but with its end spaced from the secured end of the tape, said stem having an aperture therein located to receive said tongue with a snapping engagement when the stem and the shank section are brought into substantially fully assembled relationship to lock the stem and the shank section permanently against separation.

3. A tufting button assembly comprising, in combination, a head having a stern adapted to be inserted through a fabric member to bring the head into engagement with the outer face of said member, means for fastening the end of a button-connecting element to the inner end of said stem, and means on said stem for permanent engagement with the inner face of the fabric member to hold the stern against :retraction through said fabric member, whereby exposure of and possible consequent damage to said fastening means are positively prevented.

4. In combination in a tufting button, a head, a stem adapted to extend through a small opening in a fabric member against which the head is to be secured, and means arranged to enable passage thereof through a smallstem opening in the fabric member but to engage the opposite face of said fabric member from said head to lock the button in place and prevent withdrawal of said stem through said opening, said means including structure to prevent cutting or tearing of the fabric member where said means engages it.

5. A tufting button having, in combination, an enlarged head, a stem adapted to extend through an associated piece of fabric and having means for connection to a tape, and resilient means secured to said stem to extend along and away from opposite sides thereof and terminating adjacent to the fabric-engaging face of said head to bind an interposed fabric member against said head, said resilient means being constructed to avoid cutting or tearing of thefabric member where the latter is bindingly engaged thereby.

MICHAEL DUBICK. 

